The coach of Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina has been heavily criticised for his aggressive coaching style from the box on centre court.
Stefano Vukov was shown on the broadcast appearing to berate Rybakina at crucial moments in her semi-final match against Victoria Azarenka on Thursday night.
Coaching is allowed for the first time at the Australian Open this year and some have taken to the new rules with gusto.
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Big serving Rybakina fires into final | 01:12
Rybakina failed to serve out the first set at 5-3 and was down 0-40 at 5-5 when Vukov was shown yelling at the 23-year-old and telling her to think.
Despite the criticism from her box, Rybakina prevailed 7-6 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena to make her second major final.
“I couldn’t get free points on my serve that easy like during the day when I played matches. I knew that I need to adjust,” Rybakina said after the match.
“I was doing correct things. It was just a matter to be more focused on these important moments.”
The coach and player have been working together since 2019 — including Rybakina’s breakthrough Wimbledon win last year — but the ugly footage on Thursday night prompted several people to call for Rybakina to rethink.
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Vukov has a tattoo of Rybakina after vowing to do so if she won Wimbledon last year, which she did in a comeback victory over Ons Jabeur.
In Melbourne, she has knocked out grand slam champions in three straight matches to make the final.
Rybakina took down world No. 1 Iga Swiatek then 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko before ousting two-win Australian Open winner Azarenka.
Vukov told the New York Times last week that he is an extrovert compared with his player.
“That’s why it works very well between me and Elena,” he said.
“Whatever she’s thinking, I’m probably expressing it. I hope.”
